Debut with Moose a thrill for Chisholm
Winnipeg Jets prospect scored on his second shift in his pro debut in AHL
Declan Chisholm made a good first impression in his pro hockey debut.
The Peterborough Petes grad scored on his second shift for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose against another ex-Pete.
Chisholm scored on Andrew D’Agostini, who was making his AHL debut for the Toronto Marlies. Also playing his first AHL game for Toronto was Chisholm’s former Petes teammate Nick Robertson who picked up an assist. D’Agostini earned the win.
“It’s another right step in building my career and hopefully making it to the NHL,” said Chisholm, a 2018 fifth-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets. “(The AHL) is a stepping stone a lot of hockey players have to go through. It’s a great league and you learn a lot through this league. I was really excited to get into my first pro game. It was a long time coming.”
Four games into his AHL career, Chisholm has one goal, a +2 rating and four penalty minutes. Scoring so early was a thrill.
“I was surprised it went in. I couldn’t really tell because there were a couple of guys in front of the net and I think it went in off the defenceman’s arm,” he said.
“We won an O-zone draw and I walked wide and my partner faked a one-timer and passed it over. I had all the time in the world to walk down and take a slapshot which found the back of the net, which was fortunate. I was really excited to get that one out of the way and hopefully frame that puck.”
Chisholm attended Jets training camp and continued to skate with Winnipeg until the AHL confirmed its plans for a 2020-21 season. The fact the Jets wanted him in Manitoba, rather than the ECHL or returning to junior as an overage, he took as a good sign.
“I think they have high hopes for me and they really like me. They’re trying to get me some games. (Jets’ head coach) Paul Maurice said he
“It’s another right step in building my career and hopefully making it to the NHL.” DECLAN CHISHOLM FORMER PETERBOROUGH PETE
didn’t want any young guys on their taxi squad. He wanted me to get game experience at the pro level. Manitoba is all about developing their players and they’re giving me power play time and I got a couple of PK shifts (Friday).”
Chisholm said he met D’Agostini in the summer but didn’t really know him.
D’Agostini was picked up by the Marlies to fill in with goalie Joseph Woll called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was unsure if he’d get to play but he’s started all five Marlies games posting a 3-2 record with a 2.03 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage.
“He looks pretty good. He’s playing solid,” Chisholm said.
After three years as teammates, Chisholm faced Robertson for the first time in game play. Robertson has a goal and three assists in five games for Toronto.
“(On Friday) almost every shift I was out there he was out there,” Chisholm said.
“It’s good I know how he plays and thinks so I can anticipate all the plays he’s making, but he’s such a shifty player and so skilled and smart with the puck. He’s tough to defend. I love playing against a guy like that. It was nice to see him out there.”
Chisholm had insight on Robertson after practising against him for three years.
“We’ve gone at each other so many times in practice. I definitely miss having him as a teammate. He’s such an offensive threat it’s nice to give him the puck. It’s pretty cool to play against him now at the next level.”
Chisholm has some company to help him adjust to pro life. His girlfriend, Kate, is staying with him and they rescued a puppy from the Winnipeg Humane Society.
“It’s pretty cute having a puppy. He just wants to cuddle and sleep,” he said.
CALGARY — Plans to curl in a bubble had to include how relax and recharge between draws, since the athletes in the Canadian women’s curling championship are confined to the arena and their hotel.
With the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary being held without spectators to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the women have more free time than they would normally have.
There are no autograph sessions with the public.
The Heart Stop Lounge, where curlers engage with fans via question-and-answer sessions, and where they might grab a beverage on a night off, isn’t part of the experience this year.
Shopping, sightseeing, restaurant meals out with family and friends, or socializing with other teams at the hotel aren’t either.
Puzzles, books, watching and streaming their favourite shows, board and digital games with teammates and video calls with family and friends who can’t be in the Markin MacPhail Centre are common down-time diversions.
Quebec skip Laurie St-Georges’ quest for a mental break from curling has forced her into a relationship taboo.
“My boyfriend isn’t going to be happy, but I’m going to watch my show. It’s ‘Trailer Park Boys,’ ” she declared. “I’m going to watch it without him.”
Northwest Territories lead Shona Barbour polished off a puzzle on opening weekend, says skip Kerry Galusha.
The Jennifer Jones team declared lead Lisa Weagle the queen of “Yahtzee”.
When Alberta skip Laura Walker returns to her hotel room, husband Geoff, who plays lead for Brad Gushue in the upcoming men’s national championship, and their infant son Liam are there.
“We’re just keeping a baby alive every day is what I’m here doing and curling in between,” Walker said. “If he wasn’t here, I’d probably be just lounging around watching ‘Free Britney’ documentaries.”
Kerri Einarson, skip of Team Canada, is catching up on the show “Yellowstone”, while “Grey’s Anatomy” is the go-to for Saskatchewan second Chaelynn Kitz.
Ontario second Sarah Wilkes says she’s over 200 pages into author Delia Owens’ “Where the Crawdads Sing.”
“We’ve got a couple puzzles kicking around,” Newfoundland and Labrador skip Sarah Hill said. “I think everyone has a book or two to read.”
Saskatchewan skip Sherry Anderson and third Nancy Martin play crib. Anderson misses the social aspect of the tournament in her eighth Tournament of Hearts.
“There’s so much more to the Scotties besides curling on the ice,” Anderson said. “There’s fans, there’s the autograph sessions. You meet people, you see people from years past that have been going and watching for decades.”